Do I recall this correctly.....?
Thread Starter
Do I recall this correctly.....?
A RN Sea Harrier visited Bendigo back on the eighties, probably 1988 and flown by an Australian pilot on exchange?
Wondering if anyone can shed some light?
cheers
Wondering if anyone can shed some light?
cheers
The story was posted on Facebook a while back. Cant find it now, but if I recall correctly the Ark Royal was here in 1986 for the Navy Fleet review. They sent Sea Harriers to participate in airshows at Bankstown and Albatross.
On the way home the Ark Royal went through Bass Straight and the exchange pilot , who was from Bendigo, asked to go visit his parents in Bendigo. The result was he organised to also visit the high school.
Cant remember if he landed in the school grounds or at the aerodrome.....someone else may be able to confirm.
in the post I saw, it also mentioned the pilots name.
Sea Harriers were also here in 1988, but Im pretty sure this story occurred in 1986.
Alpha
On the way home the Ark Royal went through Bass Straight and the exchange pilot , who was from Bendigo, asked to go visit his parents in Bendigo. The result was he organised to also visit the high school.
Cant remember if he landed in the school grounds or at the aerodrome.....someone else may be able to confirm.
in the post I saw, it also mentioned the pilots name.
Sea Harriers were also here in 1988, but Im pretty sure this story occurred in 1986.
Alpha
There was at least one Harrier at the Bicentennial Air Show at Richmond (1988).
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When our Navy got rid of its jets some of the pilots went across to the RAAF and some went to the Royal Navy flying the Harrier
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 16th Jun 2024 at 04:22. Reason: What on earth is the UK Navy? 🙈😂
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The visit to Bendigo was a big event with some 10,000 foik at the aerodrome to see the harrier. The pilot was Lt Dale O'Meara (ex RAN) who was from Bendigo flew from the Arc Royal in Bass Straight and joined the RN when the RAN fixed wing fleet was axed. I had a photo for a long time which I aquired from a mate thinking it was the Bendigo visit, but have since been advised it was from another venue (unless there was water tower back then that is no longer there ??)
(check the RAN News Friday 14 Oct1988 page 110 for the full article.)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...%20show%201988
(check the RAN News Friday 14 Oct1988 page 110 for the full article.)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...%20show%201988
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There was an airshow at Nowra in 1986 that featured a Harrier as well as Bondies blimp. It also had a RN Lynx and Sea King helicopter. There was also a display by the NZ A4 aerobatic team Kiwi Red. As a precursor to the Bicentennial airshow it was very good.
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Trove link
Here is a link to a Trove Navy Magazine article about the event.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/267234742
Regards
Seagull V
Regards
Seagull V
Thread Starter
The visit to Bendigo was a big event with some 10,000 foik at the aerodrome to see the harrier. The pilot was Lt Dale O'Meara (ex RAN) who was from Bendigo flew from the Arc Royal in Bass Straight and joined the RN when the RAN fixed wing fleet was axed. I had a photo for a long time which I aquired from a mate thinking it was the Bendigo visit, but have since been advised it was from another venue (unless there was water tower back then that is no longer there ??)
(check the RAN News Friday 14 Oct1988 page 110 for the full article.)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...%20show%201988
(check the RAN News Friday 14 Oct1988 page 110 for the full article.)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...%20show%201988
